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That's a Wrap on 2018!

Dec202018

Thank you for the amazing work you’ve helped Voices for Public Transit accomplish in 2018! We’re taking a look back on our biggest 2018 accomplishments and forecasting ahead to what could be a monumental year for transit in 2019.

Congress Unites to Fund Public Transportation

Congress passed a Fiscal Year 2018 budget that included big increases for transit funding.

Voices for Public Transit advocates from across the country made their voices heard when word got out that public transportation was facing potentially devastating public transit cuts.

Luckily, Congress responded and, while Washington is divided on many issues, legislators across the political spectrum recognized that Americans need mobility—and public transportation must be part of the solution.

Support for Public Transit at the Polls

Public transit supporters didn’t just achieve a victory in the federal budget battle; we also made gains at the ballot box. In the 2018 midterm elections, pro-transit ballot measures won in several states. Voters approved public transit investments in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, New Mexico, and Virginia.

Voters passed 30 out of 36 ballot measures for public transportation in the 2018 election. Those wins represent a spectrum of large cities and smaller communities, showing broad citizen support for public transportation across the nation.

New Hope for Infrastructure Legislation in 2019

By now, everyone knows that things in Congress will be shifting dramatically in 2019, with the Democratic Party taking control of the U.S. House. The Republican Party continues to hold the majority in the Senate.

Congress will be divided, which could spell trouble, but infrastructure is one area where consensus may be reached even in this partisan environment, allowing both sides of the aisle to claim wins on an issue that is fundamentally important to all Americans. Democratic leaders have already said infrastructure will be a top priority and the Administration and Republican congressional leaders have both expressed interest in passing an ambitious infrastructure plan.

We’ll call on Voices for Public Transit advocates to stand up as the infrastructure debate takes shape next year and tell Congress that public transit investment must be part of any infrastructure bill. The 2018 elections demonstrated Americans support public transportation. We’ll remind Congress throughout the year and proactively shape the debate ahead of Transportation Bill reauthorization that’s coming in 2020.